Talking about a mutual acquaintance

Mr Li: Excuse me, Mr Song. Mr Song: Oh, Mr Lee! Are you having another meeting today? Mr Lee: Yes, they invited me. Mr Song: Long time no see! Mr Lee: It’s certainly been a while since I last saw you. I guess you’ve been really busy? Mr Song: Recently I’ve been really busy because of things to do with this meeting! I need to receive the people who come to it and do things like arrange meeting rooms and prepare content. There are so many things and I’ve been rather hard pressed. Mr Li: It looks as if you still need to look after those foreigners. Mr Song: You’re right. Academic visits. Very many of them are VIPs. You can’t treat them lightly, so I have to get involved myself. Mr Li: That mustn’t be easy. Oh, do you know Mr Smith? Mr Song: Smith the Englishman? Mr Lee: Yes, are you familiar with him? How do you think he is as a person? I discussed some things with him a few days ago. I think he’s very interesting and I’d like to do a project with him. Do you think that’s reasonable? Mr Song: I’m quite familiar with him. I entertained him, we went for a meal and I also took him round everywhere. I think he’s actually all right. He always likes to ask questions. Perhaps all foreigners are like that. Mr Li: Do you think he’s using the ostensible purpose of the meeting to come and enjoy himself, or has he really come to discuss the issues? Mr Song: I can’t say for sure, but I think he’s actually quite a rigorous person with especially strong curiosity. If it’s a matter of doing academic projects, there should be no problem. Mr Li: That’s fine, I don’t understand about foreigners and have quite a few misgivings. Mr Song: Well, the easiest thing to do is to call him, have a chat with him and it will be all right. Last time he spoke to me he said that foreigners often like to go to the bar and chat, just invite him out later and go. Mr Li: Would it really be all right to go to a bar and talk about this? Mr Song: He was saying that those can’t be called bars, and should be called pubs, having a drink and exchanging opinions is the best way to understand each other. Foreigners are like that, one can only do things well by adapting to their ways. Mr Li: I understand. It’s lucky I bumped into you. I have a grasp on how to sort out these things. Mr Song: Mm, when you usually drill into academia, especially Chinese and linguistics and all that, it’s too quiet to do business. Things like cooperative projects are quite good for a lot of interactions and if there are issues, everyone is open about them. Mr Li: Yes, well I won't disturb you any more, as you are busy. Mr Song: That’s all right. Do you have Mr Smith’s telephone number or e-mail address? If things come up foreigners always like to use e-mail. Mr Li: No, I don’t have it. Mr Song: Come and save it now. Mr Li: All right. I’m sorry for being a nuisance to you. Mr Song: You’re too polite to me.